Circus profits declined in recent years for many reasons. The operation dealt with high operating costs, expensive legal battles, and changing public opinions. Large, exotic animals and death-defying stunts made the circus popular in the late 1800’s and the first half of the 1900’s, but in a world of CGI and Video Game Fantasies, the thrill of the circus for many was passe. Ringling Brothers themselves cite populations saturated with amazing programs on television, and animal rights activists– who were merely working to raise awareness about the life of animals behind circus caravan bars.

On Saturday March 5, plant-based fighter Nate Diaz defeated featherweight champion Conor McGregor by rear naked choke in the second round. Although the fight wasn’t for the belt, it was the biggest win in Diaz’s career.

Unspoken by many in the media, Diaz is notable because he eats a plant-based diet. At times, Diaz
describes himself as a raw vegan, and at other times he claims that he eats no land animals or dairy products. Also underrepresented in the media, there are many vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based fighters in the UFC. In addition to Nate, his brother Nick, their training teammate Jake Shields,Ricardo Moreira, Jon Fitch, retired fighter Mac Danzig, and even hall-of-famer Randy Couture. Some of these fighters have fought for championships, and some have won belts. Most of these fighters did not choose to eat a plant-based diet because of ethical reasons, but because they recognize the health benefits of eliminating animal products from their diets.

To add another layer of vegan interest, Conor McGregor’s movement coach is Ido Portal, who is notorious for saying that he will not train with vegans. According to Portal, vegans lack the strength and energy that he expects in his training partners.

So many ways to help animals. So many arguments that divide vegans, from each other, from vegetarians, and from the mainstream. And the reasons, all of the reasons, let’s explore some in this introduction to Vegan Concepts through terminology.
Animal Rights- The belief, and movement of working for, rights and protections for nonhumans, in specific the right to avoid suffering, the possession of self-hood and the right not to be forced/compulsory consent, and exploitation. This can include personhood, subject hood, prima facie rights, and abolitionism.

Animal Advocacy- This is similar to animal rights, although advocacy speaks to legal action, petition, or attempting to ban or block laws and practices governed by law that concern animal cruelty. Top 45 Advocacy Blogs

Animal Welfare- This is the approach that tackles the reduction of harm in incremental amounts, such as “humane” farming practices. They typically advocate for the reduction of the use of animal products to non-vegans, and the dissemination of more vegan alternatives in the market. Many vegans believe this approach leads to guilt-absolution of non-vegans, allowing people to believe that their small ethical edits (grass-fed beef, cage-free eggs etc) solve the problem, instead of making a small dent. Animal Welfare Institute

Animal Liberation- The notion that we are not free until all are free. The complete end of animal use for entertainment, agriculture, consumerism, medical testing, or any human-centered need. Occasionally, Liberation groups take matters into their own hands to liberate animals in captivity, or destroying testing cites, and others specifically work to ban or boycott industries that use captive or exploited animals. Also, the name of a book by Peter Singer, himself a controversial figure. Animal Liberation Front.

A public place, a restaurant, a grocery store. These are all places where people gather, and they are also places where decisions get made. Some of these decisions can effect the rest of someone’s life, and to people working for Animal Rights this fact is very true.

On Saturday January 30th, a group of people self-organized with DXE- Direct Action Everywhere did several “disruptions” in Washington, DC in order to encourage people to question the choices in what they eat, what they buy, and in general to attempt to break down the denial we all have about what goes into our choices: the human, environmental, and animal costs of consumer goods and our lifestyles.

Using song, calling out facts, and signs, all over the world activists disrupt the daily “ignore what we don’t see” patterns we all fall into, and encourage a deeper investigation to these issues.

Calling out: “They have families,” or “They feel pain” and the response “Just like us”

Powerful stuff. DXE has organized activist efforts all over, connect with them, link above, to find out how you too can get involved raising awareness and advocating for animals who can’t speak up for themselves.

One of the best things about going to conferences like IPBNHC is how quickly people can introduce you to new things! I was very excited to heat about an initiative called Plant Pure Nation:

“a “grassroots,” community-based strategy that engages millions of people everywhere to bring the message of plant-based nutrition to family, friends and neighbors. This effort demonstrates how millions of people working together at the local level can solve a social problem that industry and government have failed to solve.”

People from all walks of life can be vegan, and I’ll bet some of you will be surprised how many historical figures and celebrities are vegan or vegetarian. I think a powerful message here is that you don’t have to have your life consumed or your profession revolve around your vegan lifestyle, it just means you see the Big Picture.